From Capital to college: Aussie Gem in sights of power four schools

• Australian Gems moulded into Under-19 World Cup silver medalists
• How Australian Emus under-19 women's players performed at the FIBA World Cup in Czechia
• 'Taylor-made title': Manly experience too much for CoE in NBL East Women's Grand Final

To say Zara Russell has had a busy 2025 is an understatement but it's a year that's resulted in offers from seven power four programs in NCAA Division 1 basketball.

Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) scholarship holder captained their 2025 NBL1 East women’s team on its magical run to the Grand Final just weeks after being a vital cog in the Australian Gems’ incredible march to silver at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in July.

As if that wasn’t enough, last week she was announced as the newest member of the Canberra Capitals, which will see her debut in the WNBL later this year for the team she cheered for growing up in Canberra.

And in the middle of it all, she’s had college offers coming in from all over the USA. The highly-rated 18-year-old, who’s versatility and drive to compete makes her the ultimate teammate, has offers from Cal Berkeley, Louisville, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M, Utah, and Wake Forest.

"I can't wait to go to college, it will be such a new experience and I get to play a different sort of game over there which will definitely expand my skillset,” Russell told basketball.com.au.

“I've been really lucky that I've got some good schools offering [scholarships]."

While she hasn’t taken any official visits yet, it’s no wonder some of the best women’s college basketball programs are chasing her commitment. Her athleticism is eye-catching, she’s cool under pressure and the way she fights down low for extra possessions for her team is invaluable.

She’s planning to take official visits next month and her dream of going to college is becoming more and more real.

She might say it’s luck, but luck has nothing to do with Russell’s game. She’s worked tirelessly to get to where she is today and shone bright on the biggest stage at the Under-19 FIBA World Cup last month.

Her performance against Canada in the semi-final was next level as her efficiency came to the fore in the biggest moments, helping to book Australia’s ticket to the gold medal game. With Canada possessing superstar talent all over the court, Russell answered the call and delivering 14 vital points, including going 3-from-3 from deep, as the Gems recorded an 87-75 win.

Taking on the all-conquering USA team in the final, it was clear the Gems weren’t overawed by the occasion or the opponent and were within striking distance until the final few minutes of the game.

Russell was supremely proud of the group.

"Getting silver and just proving ourselves to the rest of the world was so special, and especially doing it with such an awesome group of girls,” she said.

“At the time, it was a bit sad that we lost the final, but we all spent time together afterwards to really think about it, and we were all honestly so proud of how far we'd come and how much we'd grown at the tournament.”

Pulling on the green and gold is something Russell never takes for granted, and she is ready to put in the work to become an Opal in the future

“It's unreal every time,” she said.

“It's always such a proud moment, especially when you're standing there singing the anthem. It's an incredible experience and I'm so lucky that I've been able to experience it.

“It would mean everything [to play for the Opals]. When I started playing basketball, that was always the biggest goal; to one day play in the Olympics, so I think that's definitely my long-term future goal. Everything I do now will be working towards getting there."

She’s putting in the work at the CoE and credits the program and its coaches as being vital in her development over the past couple of years.

“It’s been awesome,” she said.

“It's honestly the best opportunity I've had so far, it's made me so much better.

“You train like a professional every day and being in a routine really sets you up to be an elite athlete. Herbie (former CoE coach David Herbert) had a lot of belief in me, and he helped me get better because he saw the potential in me.”

Living and breathing basketball at the CoE has helped prepare Russell for what lies ahead, both in the WNBL and in college. Playing in the NBL1 East, where the CoE are always the youngest team on the court, has taught Russell how to play against bigger bodies.

“It's perfect preparation for the WNBL,” she said.

“Learning to play against stronger bodies, especially being such a young team, our opponents are a lot older and stronger than us, but we get to use our advantages; our speed and agility.”

After finishing fifth in a hotly-contested NBL1 East competition, the CoE proved themselves when push came to shove. First beating Canberra in an elimination final, then coming up clutch against Albury-Wodonga in the semi-final, before booking their place in the big dance with a win over the Norths Bears, who had only lost three games all season.

Despite coming up short in the grand final against Manly-Warringah, who shot the lights out, everyone could see the sheer talent and excitement within the CoE squad.

“We had such a good year, I really enjoyed it,” she said.

“You could see our growth over the year, how we connected as a team and it was so fun to play with each other.”

Russell will play for her hometown Canberra Capitals this coming WNBL season, having signed an amateur development player contract, allowing her to maintain college eligibility. The Capitals have re-loaded around superstar Jade Melbourne, signing fellow Opal squad members Sara Blicavs and Zitina Aokuso. Russell can’t wait to learn from some of the best in the business.

“Playing for Canberra was one of my biggest dreams, so it's kind of surreal,” she said.

“Those three have had so much experience and they've all played at such high levels, so getting to train with and against them will definitely challenge me and help expand my game.”

“The level of the league is really high and it’s a more advanced game. Obviously, they're all such strong players, so it will be a challenge which will help me to keep developing how I want to.”

With the path Zara Russell is on and the continued development she has shown, her name is one Australian basketball fans will want to keep an eye on.